Theater chair attachment



Jan. 19, 1932. c. H. KNIGHT ET AL THEATER CHAIR ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 6. 195o fw? 1W Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLEs HENLEY KNIGHT, OE-v NORTH CARLTON, VICTORIA, AND PHIL RANDALL, OF A MELBOURNE, VICTORIA,v vAIIsTRALIA CTI THEATER CHAIR ATTACHMENT Application led August 6, 1930, Serial No. 473,435', and in- Australia May 29, 1930.

This invention relates to an attachment to chairs and the like used in theaters and other places frequented by the public` whereby certain useful information can be shown and advertisements displayed.

The attachement consists of a light frame that can be secured to the top of the back of a chair such as one of a number constituting a fixed row in a theater or hall. Attached to the frame is a plate that is longer and deeper than the supporting frame and which is wide and deep enough to extend across the top of the back of the chair and for a short distance down its back the two parts when secured together forming a container. In

the frame are openings and a central boss containing a spindle on which is a plate that is semi-rotatable and on part of which the word Reserved is printed, seen through a glazed n: opening in the frame. The spindle can be rotated by a key. In other openings are marks to denote the number of the seat and row in which it is situated.

On the cover plate that combined with the light frame forms a container in which the information and mechanism can be housed is a central cowl behind which is an electric lamp the rays from which are deflected upon the floor or passageway behind the chair.

But in order to fully understand the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is an elevation of the front of the attachment. Fig. 2 shows the same in rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation of the whole container, and

Fig. 4 an elevation of part of the container and semi-rotatable plate therein when the front is removed.

The light frame 5 is made attachable to the chair back 6 such as through the bracket 7 and is provided with a boss 8 that forms a bearing for a spindle 9 on which is a hollow attachment l0 within the boss. The hollow member is adapted to receive a key as for instance key 11 for the purpose of rotating the spindle. Also on the spindle is the semi-rotatable plate 12 on one part of which the word Reserved is printed, the other half being blank on which an advertisement or other information can be placed.

The light frame is composed of a plate in which are glazed openings the smaller openings being for the purpose of displaying the mark of the row and chair number while through the largest opening the word Reserved is displayed when the plate is in the position indicated in Fig. l.

In order to provide a compartment for the plate l2 andv the printed information, the cover plate 13 is attached to the member 5 by bolts 14, and in order Vto properly contain the parts plate 13 is extended downwards beyond the frame 5 to below the bracket 7. In the plate are several glazed openings in the uppermost of which the back of the semi-rotatable plate 12 is seen. On this, two separate advertisements are placed, one of which can be read whenthe plate is moved to display the word Reserved at the front andthe other of which is disclosed when the reserved notice is masked.

Below the topinost opening are other glazed windows through which the row mark M and chair number are permanently seen. Beneath these again are other glazed openings behind which are advertisements and through openings in the wings o r lateral extensions of the cover plate 13 other advertisements are displayed.

In order to provide for easy access to the advertisements for changing salme, the cover platek is readily removed from theiixed frame 5 by removing the bolts 14 and tochange the information on the front side of the semirotatable plate 12 same is held upon the spindle 9 by the nut l5 which is released before taking oftl the plate.

At about the center of the cover plate is an inclining cowl 16 into which the rays from a lamp l8-set in the top of the back of the chair come through an opening 19 in the bracket 7 and another opening 20 provided in the' cover plate behind the cowl. Outside the cowl, a mirror 17 can be installed.

In operation, the attendant will carry the key l-l and will insertv it in the hollow of l() to set the reserved notice in the chair to which he will vconduct the owner for'the time being.

If the chair is not reserved, the notice will be masked to show the matter upon the other part of the plate 12. Atl the same time, the advertisements and information on the back of the chair will be displayed and the lamp will shine through the openings 19 and 20 into the cowl which will deflect the rays upon the floor or passageway when the theater is in darkness.

The frame 5 and the cover plate 13 are each flanged and when screwed together by the bolts 14 constitute a container for the operative arts which container will extend below the rame to include the frame bracket. The cover plate also extends laterally towards the sides of the chair back to provide other window openings for the display ot advertisements.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an attachment to chairs of the kind indicated, a frame secured to the top of the back of a chair, a boss thereon, a spindle supported in the boss, a sectoral plate on the spindle within the frame adapted to be rotated with the spindle by a key, a cover plate over the frame extending below the same at the back of the chair and glazed openings in the cover plate and frame.

2. In an attachment to chairs, a frame on the top of the back of a chair, a depending bracket on the frame secured to the chair back, a boss thereon, a spindle in the boss and a sectoral plate on the spindle in combination with a cover plate constituting with the frame a compartment for the operative parts and glazed openings in the cover and frame.

3. In an attachment to chairs, a frame on the top of the back of a chair, a depending bracket on the frame secured to the chair back, a boss thereon, a spindle in the boss and a sectoral plate on the spindle in combination with a cover plate constituting with the frame a compartment for the operative parts, a recessed socket piece secured on the outer end of the spindle adapted to tit into the boss and to take a key and glazed openings in the cover and frame.

4. In an attachment to chairs, a bracketed frame on the back of a chair, a cover late to the frame, a sectoral plate on a spin( le in a boss adapted to semi rotary movements within the compartment so formed, a cowl on the cover plate and a lamp behind the cowl, openings in the frame bracket and cover plate between the cowl and lamp, lateral wings on the cover plate that extend beyond the frame over the back of the chair and glazed openings in the cover and frame.

5. In an attachment to chairs, a bracketed frame on the back of a chair, a cover plate to the frame, a sectoral plate on a spindle in a boss adapted to semi rotary movements Within the compartment so formed, a cowl on the cover plate and a lamp behind the cowl, openings in the frame bracket and cover plate. lateral wings on the cover plate that extend below and beyond the frame over the back of the chair, a recessed socket piece secured on the outer end of the spindle adapted to fit into the boss and to take a key and glazed openings in the cover and frame, as and for the pur poses explained.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

CHARLES HENLEY KNIGHT.

PHIL RANDALL. 

